Machine for spreading blown glassware.



No. 653,586. Patented July 10,1900.

' A. a. NE'VILLE.--

MACHINE FOR SPREADINGBLOWN GLASSWARE.

(Application filed Dec. 5, 1899.}

(No Model.)

UNITED. STAT S PATENT- OFFICE.

ASA Gr. NEVILLE, OF W'ELLSBURG, WEST VIRGINIA.

MACHINE FOR SPREADING BLOWN GLASSWARE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 653,586, dated July 10, 1900.

Application filed December 5, 1899. Serial No. 739,296. (No model.

To all whom it mayooncern:

Be it known that I, ASA G. NEVILLE, a citizen of the United States, residing at Wellsburg, in the county of Brooke and State of West Virginia, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Machines for Spreading Blown Glassware; and Ido herebydeclare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of theinvention,such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same.

This invention relates to glass-finishing machinery of the type designed for spreading blown ware and used chiefly in the manufacture of globes and shades for the many varieties of lamps.

The invention consists, essentially, of a rotary shaft, collars relatively fixed to the shaft, shapers or templets, links connecting opposite ends of the shapers with the said collars, and a runner applied to the shaft and having connection with the shapers to cause an expansion or a contraction thereof, as required.

The invention also consists of the novel features, details of construction, and combinations of the parts which hereinafter will be more fully set forth, illustrated, and claimed.

Within the purview of the invention it is contemplated to vary; the form, proportion, and minor details of construction of the invention Without departing from or sacrificing any of the advantages thereof.

The primary object of the invention is the provision of a machine, of the character aforesaid which will involve a simple con-' struction easy of operation and effective for the purpose designed.

In the drawings, Figure 1 is a perspective View of a spreading and forming machine embodying the essential features of the invention. Fig. 2 is a view in elevation, the dotted lines showing the relation of the parts when the article is spread or expanded. Fig. 3 is a sectional detail view of the upper portion of the machine. c

Corresponding and like partsare referred: to in the following description'and indicated in all the views of the drawin gs by the same reference characters.

The working parts of the machine are mounted upon astand of suitbale design straight. .templets15 have pivotaliconnection with the found best adapted for the purpose. As shown, this stand is composed of abase 1 and a corresponding upper plate 2, posts or uprights 3 serving to connect the base and upper plate. The vertical shaft 4 is stepped at its lower end in a block applied to the top side of the base 1 and is journaled in the plate 2 and is provided atiits lower end with a band-pulley 5, which'receives motion from the shaft 6 by means of an endless drivebelt 7, passing around the pulley 5 and a corresponding pulley 8, secured to the said shaft 6. The shaft4 projects a considerable distance above the plate 2 in order to receive the spreading device and otherconnecting mechanisms.

A collar 9 is adjustably connected to the upper end of the shaft 4 and is provided at intervals in its circumferential length with pairs of cars 10, to which the inner or lower ends of links 11 are pivotally connected. A second collar 12 is likewise adj ustably connected with the vertical shaft 4 and is provided with pairs of ears 13 at intervals in its periphery, to which the inner or lower ends of links 14 are pivotally'attached. The links 11 normally have a parallelrelation, as most clearly indicated in Figs. 2 and 3, whereas the links 14 are normally upwardly divergent. Shapers or templets 15 have pivotal connection with the upper outer terminals of the set of links Hand 14 and normally'have an upward divergence, their upper ends being in wardly curved and I their vlower portions The upper ends of. the shapers or free ends, of the links 11 and their lower ends are pivotally connectedwith the outer ends of the links 14. The links besides having a different relative angular disposition are of different lengths. Hence the shapers or templets have a differential movement imparted thereto, their lower ends moving more rapidly than their upper ends when the said shapers are operated to expand the article to be shaped. As is Well known, the article when blown is hollow, and when detached from the pipe an opening is provided, and this opening is of a size to admit of the lower portion of the article when reheated and placed on the machine receiving the upper ends of the templets or shapers 15, and when the latter are moved outward at the same time serve to spread or expand the article, as will be readily comprehended and as shown by the dotted lines in Fig. 2.

Various means may be resorted to for causing a contraction and expansion of the shaping devices and, as shown, a runner 16 is slidably mounted upon the shaft 4 and is provided with seats or pairs of cars at intervals in its periphery, and these seats receive the lower ends of links 17, which are pivoted thereto, the upper ends of the links having pivotal connection with the lower ends of the templets or shapers 15. A spring 18 of the coil type is mounted upon the shaft 4 and is confined between the plate 2 and the lower end of the runner 16 and exerts an upward thrust against said runner to hold the shaper contracted. A foot-lever 19 is horizontally disposed and is pivoted at one end to a bracket 20, attached to the plate 2, and this foot-lever is spread at a central point to embrace the sides of the runner 16, the latter being annularly grooved to make interlocking connection between the runner and lever, whereby when said lever 19 is depressed at its outer end by the application of the foot of the operator thereto the spring 18 is compressed and the runner 16 lowered, thereby causing a spreading or expanding of the shaping device and the article applied thereto. When the pressure is removed from the lever 19, the spring 18, previously compressed, regains itself and returns the elements of the shaper to a normal position, as shown.

The shaft 4 is provided at its upper end with a centering device 21, which consists of a pin rounded at its upper end and having an annular flange 22, adapted to form a support in the neck portion of the article when expanded, as shown by dotted lines in Fig. 3. This insures equal expansion or spreading of the article at all points in its circumference and insures the centralizing of the neck or collar. It is to be understood. that the shaping devices are rotated when the machine or apparatus is in operation, thereby bringing each element of the mechanism-that is, the shapers or templets 15into contact, so as to insure like and equal expansion thereof.

The apparatus is especially designed for finishing articles having a flaring form when completed, and is particularly devised for finishing shades for lamps and lights of various kinds. The article when blown and detached from the blowpipe is caught bya post or snap in the well-known manner, and the end detached from the blowpipe is fitted upon the upper or smaller end of the shaping device and is gradually lowered thereon as the expanding or spreading progresses. In this connection it is to be remembered that the shaping devices are rotated at a comparativelyhigh rate of speed. When the lower end of the article is fitted upon the upperportion of the shaper, the operator presses down upon the outer end of the treadle or foot-lever, thereby spreading the templets or shapers 15 and causing a corresponding expansion of the article fitted thereto.

This machine may be used in conjunction with others and may finish the article or serve simply to give an initial spread thereto, as required.

Having thus described the invention, what is claimed as new is 1. In apparatus for shaping blown glassware, a vertical rotary shaft, spaced collars applied to said shaft, upwardly-convergent shapers having their upper ends incurved, upper links normally parallel and pivotally connecting the curved extremities of the shapers with the upper collar, lowerlinks upwardly divergent and longer than the upper links and pivotally connecting thelower ends of the shapers with the lower collar, a runner coaxially disposed with reference to the said shaft, other upwardly-divergent links connecting said runner with the lower or divergent ends of the shapers, substantially as set forth.

2. In glass-finishing apparatus of the character described, a vertically-disposed shaft, spaced collars having adjustable connection with said shaft, means for securing said collars positively to the shaft in an adjusted position, shapers grouped aboutthe shaft, links pivotally connecting, respectively, opposite ends of the shapers with the said spaced collars, a runner slidably mounted upon the shaft, links pivotally connecting the runner with the divergent ends of the shapers, a spring exerting a force against the runner to hold the parts in a normal position, means for imparting a rotary movement to the shaft, and a foot-lever for connection with the said runner, as and for the purpose set forth.

In testimony whereof I aflix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

ASA G. NEVILLE. 

